God became man

Micah and Isaiah prophesied about the birth of the Jesus, seven centuries before it happened. Joseph and Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna, the shepherds in the field were touched by his birth, and their lives were changed forever. What is this about Jesus’ birth which we call Christmas nowadays, and what does it mean for all of us? For each one of us?

Two gospel writers, Matthew and Luke recorded Christ’s birth as it happened, in a historical way. From them we get all the stories, and associated celebration we currently do now, albeit, with a lot of “additions” and “trimmings” not related to the true essence of Jesus’ birth. Sometimes, these extraneous practices become the main agenda, devouring our time and attention, replacing the reality of “God becoming man.”

The gospel of John reminds us of this reality and brings us to who we really are – sinners in the sight of God, separated from him. We celebrate Jesus’ birth but often forget he is God and was there from the very beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1,2). And we are told that he was already there even before and during Creation. “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (verse 3).

He is the author of life. “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:4,5). We are sinners not just because we sin, but because we are. And it took the human sacrifice of the Son of Man to redeem us from the bondage and wages of sin – eternal death. But to do that, the Son of God came into the world, born a baby one Christmas night. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (verse 14). God became man.

Unfortunately, sinners as we are, we continue to rebel against him. “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (John 1:9-10). Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to save all of humanity, but the efficacy of that salvation belongs to only those who repent and accept Jesus as God and Savior. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

God became man to offer his life for our salvation. Christmas is about Jesus’ death on the Cross. God became man for our salvation. That’s what Christmas is all about.

My family and I wish all of you God’s blessings this Christmas season.